The definition of a PC gamer has changed in recent times according to Dell's survey. (Source: Dell)

Dell commissioned a study in collaboration with Researchscape to understand the PC gaming community. The study brings forth some new facts about gamers, their habits, and attitudes and breaks the typical stereotyping commonly associated with them.

A study by Dell in collaboration with Researchscape has revealed some interesting facts about the PC gaming community. The research reveals that the gaming market has exceeded US$30 billion in 2016 and is poised to grow at 6% compounded annual growth rate till 2019. For this study, Researchscape collected information from 5,763 gamers from 11 countries. The qualification for participation is that gamers had to play video games on desktops or laptops for at least an hour a week.

Dell's survey reveals that the gamer of today is not just a teen in the basement but could be any person — a co-worker with kids, a woman at the gym, a volunteer, spouse, sibling, or friend. A positive feedback received during the survey was that very few responders actually felt that being called a 'gamer' was derogatory. Video games are being much sought after for relaxation, passing time, and beating stress. While the skill level wasn't being given much importance, apparently no one preferred being called a noob.

Also, the number of female gamers has grown over the years and the ethnicity, background, and views of the other players mattered almost nothing to any gamer. Overall, the gaming community has become increasingly diverse and that is a good sign. The stereotypical notion that gamers are mostly reclusive and do not have a life outside gaming has been debunked. The survey found most gamers to have busy lives with many outside interests.

While gaming has been generally associated with whiling away time, especially by the older generation, the survey had responders who said that gaming helped hone many of their soft skills such as hand-eye coordination, strategic thinking, and increased reaction time. They said these improved skills helped them in real life as well.

Finally, the survey revealed that gamers can sacrifice their own commitments for gaming but do have their limits. While gamers are willing to sacrifice their sleep and food, they are less likely to skimp on social commitments. Virtual Reality (VR), though, is still a growing niche with immense potential for growth.

Check out the infographic below for all the statistics. Do you think that the gaming landscape has changed for the better? Let us know in the comments below.

I am a cell and molecular biologist and computers have been an integral part of my life ever since I laid my hands on my first PC which was based on an Intel Celeron 266 MHz processor, 16 MB RAM and a modest 2 GB hard disk. Since then, I’ve seen my passion for technology evolve with the times. From traditional floppy based storage and running DOS commands for every other task, to the connected cloud and shared social experiences we take for granted today, I consider myself fortunate to have witnessed a sea change in the technology landscape. I honestly feel that the best is yet to come, when things like AI and cloud computing mature further. When I am not out finding the next big cure for cancer, I read and write about a lot of technology related stuff or go about ripping and re-assembling PCs and laptops.